$5 For ticket information, contact your local university's athletic ticket office. East Carolina 252/328-4500 Rice 713/522-OWLS Tulsa 918/631-GoTU Houston 713/GO-COOGS SMU 214/SMU-GAME UAB 205/975-UABl Marshall 800/THE-HERD Southern Miss 601/266-5418 UCF 407 /UCF-1000 Memphis 888/867-UofM Tulane 504/861-WAVE UTEP 915/747-6150 For information on the host cities, visit: www.neworleanscvb.com www.memphistravel.com The official 2008 Conference USA Football Championship Program is pub lished by Conference U SA and IM C College.

CONFERENCE USA Commissioner: Britton Banowsky Executive Associate Commissioner: Judy MacLeod Associate Commissioner: Alfred White Dear C-USA Fans and Participants: Associate Commissioner: Kdly Carney Associate Commissioner for Sports Services: Chris Woolard Associate Commissioner for Compliance and Academics: Robert Philippi Welcome to the 2008 Conference USA Football Championship. Asst Commissioner for Football and Baseball Operations: Russ Anderson Asst. Commissioner for Business Affairs: Catrina Gibson Asst. Commissioner for Public Affairs: Courtney Morrison Archer Every year, Conference USA continues its commitment to athletics, academics and Asst Commissioner for Sports Services: K~isha Dunlap Director of Events: Monav Scholle community. With our outstanding institutions sharing this unwavering commitment, Associate Director of Media Relati~ns: Debbie Davis the league continues to enjoy competitive success, as well as success in the classroom and Assistant Director of Media Relations: Tod Meisner Assistant Director of Sports Services: \'('alter Brock in our communities. We welcome you into the house that is Conference USA. Our Assistant Director of Marketing and Business Affairs: Carmen Jones house is built on a solid foundation of competition, tradition, education and sportsman• Director of Student-Athlete Services/Executive Assistant: Callie Hubbell Administrative Assistant: Karie JvkGregor ship and, in it, you will find the cornerstones: smart athletes and strong students. Intern: Andrew Lilly Intern: Nia Vairai Multimedia/Creative Services Consultant: Erika Amstadt Hirschfield C-USA championship events are the highlight of every season - an opportunity to enjoy the outstanding talents and abilities of our athletics programs, as well as appreciate the competitive spirit of all of our student-athletes and coaches. Congratulations to all of the coaches and student-athletes who will compete for the C-USA football champi• onship title.

I~www.imgwlorld.Gcom (888) 484-4678 We would like to extend sincere thanks to today's host, who along with the champi• onship committee, has worked hard in preparation for this event. The league also CORPORATE OFFICERS Chairman and CEO appreciates the support from our fans across the country. On behalf of everyone Theodore J. Forstmann President, Sports and Entertainment involved with Conference USA, I hope you have a wonderful time today. George Pyne Senior Corporate Vice President, College Pat Battle Senior Vice President, College Sales and Marketing Lee Stacey Sincerely, !MG College Senior Vice President, Managi ng Director Thomas J. Srultz Senior Vice President, Operations Steve Cornwell Senior Vice President, Sales Lawton M. Logan PUBLISHING Director of Pnblishing Britton Banowsky Brad Johnson Commissioner Production Manager Kirk Phillips Project Manager Richard Groves Editorial Division Dan Peters, Marianne Stoess, Dan King, Jason Brunn, Chad Laytham, Kara Koscelski, Matt Coy, Jason Crisler, Abby Laub, Jef!i:ey Salmon Design Kristy Marques, Sarah Jane Hudson Vice President, Direct or of Print Servi ces johral-larden

cn~FE REN CE USA. COM I! C-USA: COMPETITION LIVES HERE

Welcome to Conference USA, home to 12 nation• radio, and wireless distribution as well as corporate mar• ally prominent, tradition-rich members in East keting rights, and website production through SUCCESS ON THE PLAYING FIELD Carolina, Houston, Marshall, Memphis, Rice, SMU, CSTV.com, part of CBS College Sports. The agreement Conference USA performers have achieved great success in competition, placing the league among the top confer• Southern Miss, Tulane, Tulsa, UAB, UCF and UTEP. with ESPN extends the conference's current regular sea• ences in the nation. This combination enhances men's and women's pro• son football package to include the broadcast of the grams that are steeped in athletic success and academ• Conference USA Football Championship Game. It also Football ic prowess. Together, we are committed to excellence, encompasses distribution of men's basketball and • Rated among the top seven conferences in the nation integrity and leadership in athletics, academics and in women's basketball on ESPN/ESPN2 and both C-USA • 44 teams have earned bowl bids • Member of the Bowl Championship Series (BCS) our communities. Dedication to excellence is a com• tournament championship games. • Bowl tie-ins with the AutoZone Liberty Bowl, GMAC mon thread for C-USA and the guiding initiative for Bowl, Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl, St. Petersburg the league's promising future. C-USA IN THE COMMUNITY Bowl, R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl and Texas Bowl All C-USA institutions sponsor Division I football in The conference's footprint is concentrated with 12 Men's Basketball the Football Bowl Subdivision, along with several other members in nine states and a combined area population Consistently rated as one of the top basketball leagues in men's and women's athletic programs, many of which of nearly 17 million. More than 1.1 million living the country compete regularly for NCAA Championships. C-USA alumni represent C-USA schools across the nation. • One of IO NCAA Division I conferences that welcomed sponsors I 9 sports - nine for men (baseball, basket• With a renewed commitment to community involve• more than one million fans in 2007-08 ball, cross country, football, golf, soccer, tennis and ment, the conference has begun development of several • 78 postscason teams (42 NCAA, 33 NIT and 3 CBI) Three Final Four teams indoor and outdoor track and field) and IO for women initiatives to maintain strong ties in C-USA cities, as • National Championship title game in 2008 (basketball, cross country, golf, softball, soccer, swim• well as with fans and alumni across the country. C-USA • Seven Elite Eight NCAA tournament teams ming and diving, tennis, indoor and outdoor track and schools also place a priority on giving back to their com• One NIT Champion and four NIT semi-finalists field and volleyball). munities through volunteer service with local and Inaugural CBI Champion The league sponsors numerous academic awards, national organizations. Women's Basketball including the Commissioner's Honor Roll and the • 42 NCAA tournament appearances Commissioner's Academic Medal, indicative of out• GOVERNANCE 29 WNIT appearances standing achievement in the classroom. C-USA annual• Along with the ACC, Big East, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac• One team in the NCAA Sweet 16 ly awards up to 12 post-graduate scholarships, along ] 0 and the SEC, Conference USA is one of the seven Two WNIT semifinalists with the Sport Academic Award, Scholar Athletes of the conferences having significant representation in the Baseball Year and the Institutional Academic Excellence Award. NCAA governance structure. The Presidents of the 44 NCM appearances member institutions serve as the league's Board of Five College World Series appearances in 2008, 2007, SUCCESS OFF THE FIELD Directors. R. Gerald Turner of SMU currently serves as 2006, 2005 and 200 I • 1 0 Super Regional appearances C-USA institutions are among the nation's best in aca• chair of the C-USA Board. Has produced at least four NCAA teams in each of the demic performance among student-athletes, bolstered by last seven seasons the fact that student-athletes at league schools have a A PROUD HISTORY higher graduation rate than the general student popula• A PROMISING FUTURE In addition, 29 volleyball teams, 43 men's and women's tion. Among C-USA's 5,000 student-athletes, there are Conference USA was formed in 1995 and quickly soccer teams and 21 softball teams have earned NCAA tour• nament bids. C-USA has sent three men's soccer teams to the champions off the playing field as well. In I 3 years, 118 emerged as one of the nation's top conferences. The NCAA College Cup, five softball teams to the Women's student-athletes earned national ESPN The Magazine conference unveiled its name, logo and commission• College World Series and three volleyball teams to the Sweet Academic All-America honors, while 405 were named er on April 24, 1995, in Chicago. The league's char• 16. The league has also had four national champions in All-District. In addition, more than 15,000 student-ath• ter members included Charlotte, Cincinnati, DePaul, NCAA track and field competition, one national champion in diving and numerous NCAA individual and team com• letes have been named to the Commissioner's Honor Roll Houston, Louisville, Marquette, Memphis, Saint petitors in cross country, golf~ swimming, tennis and track or received the Commissioner's Academic Medal, indica• Louis, Southern Miss, Tulane, UAB and USF. Eleven and field. Overall, Conference USA teams and individuals tive of outstanding achievement in the classroom. of the institutions began athletic participation in have made more than 500 NCAA appearances. 1995, while Houston joined competition in the fall C-USA ON TV of 1996. sporrs and they began competition in 200 I. USF start• C-USA enjoys significant television exposure The league's headquarters were established in ed C-USA football in 2003. through its partnerships with ESPN Inc. and CBS Chicago and, after nine years, relocated to the current After celebrating its l Oth Anniversary during the College Sports Television Nerworks (formerly CSTV). office in Irving, Texas. Britton Banowsky was named 2004-05 season, C-USA began a new chapter in 2005-06 The league entered into long-term agreements with Commissioner in October 2002, succeeding Mike when its current membership came together to form the both ESPN and CBS College Sports, which, combined, Slive, the league's first commissioner. new look of the league. provides C-USA with significant national and regional C-USA added East Carolina (September, 1996) and Since its formation, C-USA has established a strong exposure for football, men's and women's basketball, the United States Military Academy (March, 1997) as foundation, an identity and a history that reflects the and all other conference sports. Additionally, the CBS football members. ECU began league competition in league's national presence. Thirteen years of remarkable College Sports agreement includes video-on-demand, 1997; Army in 1998 and UAB began football play in history has reinforced the league's position in collegiate ath• Internet, broadband, national over-the-air and satellite 1999. The league added TCU and ECU (1999) for all letics, setting the course for the next decade and beyond.

2008 CONFERENCE USA FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP EAST CAROLINA HOUSTON MARSHALL MEMPHIS RICE SMU SOUTHERN MISS TULANE TULSA UAB UCF UTEP

C-USA CHAMPIONSHIP GAME HISTORY 2007 / / Orlando, Fla. (Bright House Networks UCF led 31-23 at halftime, but couldn't stop Paul Smith early. The Golden Hurricane, the country's top offense with 548 yards a game, rolled up 376 yards Stadium) UCF 44, Tulsa 25 and 13 first downs. The Knights let Smith slip out of several third-and-long situ• UCF junior had run through 13 teams for 2,448 yards on the sea• ations with long completions over the middle, including a 29-yarder to Trae son. After this game, all that stood in his way was a Hall of Fame rusher who hadn't Johnson on rhird-and-12 that set up Tulsa's first score. played college ball in 19 years. But the Knights clamped down in the second half, pressuring Smith into Tulsa's Smith had 284 yards and four as UCF beat Tulsa 44-25 for the third-worst offensive outing of the season. UCF used the same blueprint when the Conference USA championship. He moved into second place behind Barry Sanders teams met in the regular season, picking off four Smith passes in a 44-23 win. on the NCAA's single-season rushing list, wirh one game lefr, UCF's Dec. 29 Liberty "A lot of it is they've got some really, really explosive guys up front, and I think Bowl appearance. that's the key to their defense," Graham said. As he had all year, the 6-foot- I, 211-pound junior downplayed his gaudy numbers. Down 37-23, Tulsa stayed alive when Paul Smith found Brennan Marion for a 'Tm expected to be back there and make the right cut at the right rime," Smith 33-yard completion on fourth down to the Knights' 3-yard-line. Despite four said. "You can't run up the sideline without a hole. My guys gave it to me, and I tried chances at point-blank range, Tulsa couldn't score until it turned the ball over on nor to let them down." downs and tackled UCF QB Kyle Israel for a safety. Then, perhaps his biggest understatement: "Coach gives me the ball a lot." Knights coach George O'Leary saved a in the second quarter afrer Smith also set the NCAA all-time single-season record in season rushing attempts Paul Smith ran in an eight-yard draw. The Golden Hurricane lined up for the with 415, 12 more than Marcus Allen had at USC in 1981. Allen had been ahead of extra point, but O'Leary challenged, saying Tulsa had 12 players on the field. The Smith in season rushing yardage, but the junior passed him with a six-yard carry in review showed he was correct, and Tulsa came away without any points when the third quarter. Smith had 24 carries for 161 yards at halfrime, and piled up even Smith was intercepted by Jahnel! Neal at the 5-yard-line. more with a 74-yard TD run in the fourth quarter. Cornerback Joe Burnett scored UCF's first TD on an 83-yard punt return. It "I have coached in the BCS, and I can guarantee you that he is as good as anybody was the school's first since the conference ride game in 2005, when he ran one in the country," Tulsa coach Todd Graham said. "No question about it." back 68 yards. It was the second time in three years the teams played for the conference champi• The real offense was coming from the Smiths. Tulsa's senior Paul turned in his onship. Tulsa (9-4, 6-3) won in 2005, but the Golden Hurricane's star quarterback 13th straight 300-yard game after never having one before this year. Paul Smith made too many mistakes this rime. Kevin Smith's four touchdowns gave him 30 on the season, fourth-best in his• Smith passed for 426 yards, his third 400-yard game that season, on 28 of 5 5 com• tory behind Sanders (39), Boise State's Brock Forsey (32) and Louisiana Tech's pletions, but threw three . Two were in the second half, and each one Troy Edwards (31). happened inside or near the end zone. "Kevin's been special every game, I think from the first to the twelfth, and hope• "They play as well as anyone we've played - physicality, speed, strength," fully people recognize that," O'Leary said. "I think this game went out over the Smith said. nation, and they saw a guy that comes out and plays like he's supposed to play."

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CO~ FERENCE USA. COM C-USA CHAMPIONSHIP GAME HISTORY 2006 // Houston, Texas (Robertson Stadium) 2005 // Orlando, Fla. (Citrus Bowl) Houston 34, Southern Miss 20 Tulsa 44, UCF 27 Kevin Kolb threw two touchdown passes to Biren Ealy and ran for another score to Tarrien Adams had three rouchdowns, two of them rushing, and Tulsn's defense lead Houston to a 34-20 win over Southern Miss in the second annual Conference USA shur our UCF in the second half as the Golden Hurricane claimed their first league championship game. tide in 20 years with a 44-27 victory in the inaugural Conference USA championship "A lot of people doubted us and said it couldn't be done," said Kolb, who completed game before 51,978 at the Florida Citrus Bowl. 19-of-3 l passes for 258 yards and two touchdowns. "It was done tonight and hopefully, Adams had a I 5-yard touchdown catch and a 6-yard scoring run in the first quar• for the program, it will continue to be done." ter - then sealed the win with a 25-yard run with 6: 17 left in the third as Tulsa won The Cougars (10-3) won their first C-USA tide in 1996, but went 37-66 over the for the sixth time in its last seven games. The Golden Hurricane's last league crown next nine seasons. Houston hired Art Briles in 2003 and he lured Kolb, the quarterback came in 1985, when Tulsa won the Missouri Valley Conference. Briles coached in high school. Paul Smith completed B-ot:20 passes for 205 yards and two scores for Tulsa, In the game, Kolb became the conference's all-time passing leader, leapfrogging which held UCF to 55 yards in the second half. Uri! Parrish had 100 yards and a Louisville quarterback Chris Redman. touchdown for the Golden Hurricane, and Adams finished with 81 rushing yards. Kolb also had a 46-yard touchdown run in the third quarter that gave the Cougars Tulsa's Garrett Mills had eight catches for 152 yards - giving him 1,183 for the year, the lead for good. His two TD passes moved him into second place on the league's career an NCAA record for most receiving yards by a tight end in a season. Brigham Young's list, two behind Redmans record of 84. Chris Smith had 1,156 in 1 990. Afrer the game, Kolb only wanted to talk about the championship. "I've been telling Kevin Smith ran for 1 08 yards and a touchdown for U CF, which snapped a 1 7-game people since the beginning of the year that that's all that matters and that's the truth," he losing streak earlier in the season and would go on to play in a bowl for the first time in said. "This means a lot more to me than any records." the school's 10-year football history. Steven Moffett threw for 190 yards and a touch• Vincent Marshall, Houston's career receiving leader, caught eight passes for 100 yards down, but had two interceptions and lost two - with three of those turnovers and had a touchdown run on a lateral for the Cougars. Marshall, a senior, was named the coming in the second half. game's Most Valuable Player. He finished with 224 all-purpose yards -100 receiving, 18 UCF had a chance to cut a 14-point deficit in half early in the fourth, but on his first career pass, 22 on the TD run and 102 on three kickoff returns. Dontavius Wilcox - with no defenders in front of him - srumbled and fell at the 'The only thing I was thinking about was all the hard work we've put into this," Tulsa 10. Marshall said. The Golden Knights, who'd never drawn more than 50,220 to a home game, even• "It's very gratifying," Briles said. "We've battled our tails off now for four years and tually rurned the ball over on downs, and Tulsa ran seven-and-a-half minutes off the got this thing where it needs to be." clock before Brad DeVault kicked his third field goal with 2:24 left to cap the scoring. Jeremy Young had a touchdown run and threw a TD pass to Chris Johnson to lead Tulsa led 31-27 at halftime, after the teams totaled 520 yards - not including a 58- the Golden Eagles. yard return by Tulsa's Nick Graham and a 68-yard punt return for a touch• "Our guys played hard and I am proud of our football team for getting to this game," down by UCF's Joe Burnett. said Eagles coach Jeff Bower. "We certainly would have liked to have won it, but I'm Moffett threw a 43-yard pass to Willie Thornton to open the scoring, but the Golden proud of them for what they've done this year." Hurricane answered with 21 straight points to build an early two-touchdown lead. The Cougars trailed 1 7- L3 at halftime, but came from behind to win for the sixth Adams caught a 15-yard touchdown pass from Smith, then scored on a 6-yard run to straight game. give Tulsa its first lead. Early in the third quarter, Kolb faked a handoff ro Jackie Battle and sprinted for a Afrer Graham picked off a Moffett pass and rerurned it to the UCF 2-yard line, touchdown, the longest run of his career. Kolb, Conference USA's career leader in total Parrish scored one play later for a 21-7 Tulsa lead - capping a run of three touchdowns offense, went 6-for-6 on Houston's next drive and found Ealy for a 33-yard touchdown in less than seven minutes by the Golden Hurricane. with 2:52 left in the third quarter. UCF rallied with 17 unanswered points in a five-and-a-half minute stretch, with While Kolb hit his stride after a sluggish first half, Houston's defense held Southern Smith scoring on a 31-yard run, Matt Prater kicking a 46-yard field goal and Burnett Miss to 46 yards and two first downs in the third quarter. Darren McCaleb kicked a 31- putting the Golden Knights back on top with his second interception rerurn for a yard field goal midway through the fourth quarter to cut Houston's lead to 27-20. score in as many games. But Kolb drove the Cougars to the Southern Miss 32, then lofted a TD pass to Ealy DeVaulr's 29-yard field goal and Mills' 29-yard touchdown catch with 2:06 left - down the sideline with 4:25 lefr. Afrer the touchdown, Kolb jogged to the sideline and the one setting the NCAA record - gave Tulsa a 31-24 edge, before Prater drew the high-fived quarterbacks coach Philip Montgomery. Golden Knights within four with a 40-yard field goal on the half's final play. The game drew 31,818, the largest crowd in the history of Robertson Stadium, which But UCF went scoreless in the third quarter, while Tulsa got an 18-yard field goal by was built in the 1940s and expanded in 1999. Sourhern Miss freshman , DeVault and a 25-yard run by Adams midway through the period to take a 41-27 lead the league's second-leading rusher, finished with 90 yards, U below his average. into the final 15 minutes.

2008 CONFERENCE USA FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP C-USA BOWL PARTNERS AutoZone Liberty Bowl

Quick Facts

Web site: www.LibertyBowl.org Location: Memphis, Tennessee Date: January 2, 2009 Time: 4 p.m. CST Stadium: Liberty Bowl Memorial (62,380) Network: ESPN Opponent: SEC Selection Executive Director: Steve Ehrhart President: Mike Longo Associate Executive Director: Harold Graeter

The AutoZone Liberty Bowl will be celebrating its 50th Anniversary in 2008 the SEC in the game for the third-straight year ... Over the years the Liberty ... Ir is rhe nation's seventh-oldest bowl ... Conference USA's representative has Bowl has seen legendary coaches such as Paul "Bear" Bryant, Lou Holtz, won seven of the last 11 Liberty Bowl games ... C-CSA teams have an all-time Johnny Majors and Joe Paterno coach in the game, while outstanding players record of 10-7 in the game ... The game has drawn a crowd of more than such as Ernie Davis, Doug Fluric, Bo Jackson, Archie Manning and Randy 50,000 in each of the last 10 years ... In 2008, C-USA will face a team from ~'hire have participated in rhe bowl. GMAC Bowl

Quick Facts

Web sire: www.GMACBowl.com Location: Mobile, Alabama Date: January 6, 2009 Time: 7 p.m. CST Stadium: Ladd-Peebles Stadium (42,000) Network: ESPN Opponent: MAC Selection CEO: Mike Gottfried President: Jerry Silverstein Executive Director: hank Modarelli

Some of the brightest offensive stars have displayed their talents in the of Memphis have raced down rhe field at Ladd-Peebles Stadium ... East first nine years of the GMAC Bowl. Incredibly productive quarterbacks Carolina and Marshall battled in rhe highest-scoring bowl game in NCAA like Paul Smith (Tulsa), Jordan Palmer (UTEP), Dave Ragone history in rhe third annual GMAC Bowl in 2001. No. 25 Marshall rallied (Louisville), Stefan Lefors (Louisville) and David Garrard (East Carolina) from a 38-8 halftime deficit ro post a 64-61 win in double-overtime. The have squared off against the likes of Bruce Gradkowski (Toledo), Ben teams combined for I, 141 total yards. Last year, Tulsa set an NCAA Roethlisberger (Miami-Ohio) and (Marshall) in the game. record for largest winning margin in a bowl game with its 63-7 victory Running backs like TCU's LaDainian Tomlinson and DeAngelo Williams over Bowling Green.

CO FERENCEUSA.COM C-USA BOWL PARTNERS Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl Quick Facts

Web site: www.ArmedForcesBowl.com Location: Fort Worth, Texas Date: December 31, 2008 Time: 11 a.m. CST Stadium: Amon G. Carter Stadium (44,008) Network: ESPN Match-Up: Mountain West Conference Selection Executive Director: Tom Starr

Following a one-year absence, Conference USA will return to the Bell The 2004 game featured a marchup of current and future C-USA members as Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl ... The C-USA representative will face an oppo• Cincinnati posted a 32-14 win over Marshall in what proved to be the final nent from the Mountain West Conference ... Conference USA was a part of game for Thundering Herd head coach Bob Pruett, who retired several weeks the first four Armed Forces Bowls (known as the Fort Worth Bowl during its afrer the game ... The inaugural game in 2003 featured a battle of top 20 teams first three years) ... Tulsa appeared in the game in 2006, losing to Utah . when No. 19 TCU battled No. 16 Boise State. The Broncos won the game, Houston represented C-USA in the 2005 game, falling to Big 12 foe Kansas . 34-31, in one of the highest scoring games of the 2003-2004 bowl season. R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl

Quick Facts

Web site: www.NewOrleansBowl.org Location: New Orleans, La. Date: December 21, 2008 Time: 7 p.m. CST Stadium: Louisiana Superdome (69,767) Network: ESPN Opponent: Sun Belt Conference Champion President/CEO: Jay Cicero Executive Director: Billy Ferrante

Conference USA will be a part of the R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl respectively ... In 2003, Memphis, armed with more than 10,000 of its for the seventh-consecutive season, facing the champion of the Sun Belt fans, made its first bowl appearance since 1 971 ... The Tigers defeated Conference ... Last season, Memphis made its fourth bowl appearance in North Texas, 27-17, co cap off their first nine-win season since 1963 ... five years when it fell ro Florida Atlantic ... Rice represented C-USA in In 2002, C-USA co-champion Cincinnati battled North Texas, dropping the 2006 game, ending a 45-year bowl drought, losing to Troy ... a 24-19 decision to the Mean Green ... The New Orleans Bowl is played Southern Miss captured back-to-back games in 2005 and 2004, defeat• at the Louisiana Superdome, home of Tulane University and site of six ing Sun Belt Conference Champions Arkansas State and North Texas, games.

..• 2008 CONFERENCE USA FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP :- C-USA BOWL PARTNERS St. Petersburg Bowl Quick Facts

Web site: www.SrPercrsburgBowl.com Location: Sr. Petersburg, Fla. Date: December 20, 2008 Time: 4:30 p.m. EST Stadium: Tropicana Field (43,000) Network: ESPN2 Opponent: Big Easr Selection Executive Director: Brett Dulaney

Conference USA has reached an agrecmenr with the St. Petersburg Bowl ESPN2 ... The NCAA certified St. Petersburg Bowl is owned and oper• to provide a ream for its annual game beginning with the inaugural 2008 ated by ESPN Regional Television (ERT), a subsidiary of ESPN ... This contest ... The C:-USA representative will play an opponent from the Big will be the first time that C-USA has been a part of a bowl game in East Conference ar Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg ... The inaugural St. Florida ... The St. Petersburg Bowl will be the sixth postseason game to Petersburg Bowl will be played this December and will be televised by rake place in the Sunshine State. Texas Bowl

Quick Facts I

Web site: www."IexasBowl.org Location: Houston, Texas Date: December 30, 2008 Time: 7 p.m. CST Stadium: Relianr Stadium (68,000) Network: NFL Network President: Jamey Roores

Conference USA will be a part of rhe Texas Bowl in Houston for the faced old C-USA and Southwest Conference rival TCU in the game, 2008 and 2009 seasons .. . Operated by Lone Star Sports & falling 20-13 ... In the inaugural Texas Bowl in 2006, nationally-ranked Entertainment, the bowl is played at the stare-of-the-art Reliant Rutgers defeated Kansas State, 37-10, in front of a crowd of 52,210, rhe Stadium, home of the NFCs Houston Texans. C-USA will face an oppo• largest crown to watch a bowl game in Houston not involving Texas nent from rhe Big 12 Conference in the bowl ... Last year, Houston since 1972.

CONFERENCE USA. COM 8 2008 CONFERENCE USA FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP CON FE A EN CE USA. COM EAST CAROLINA UNIVERSITY

The East Carolina clock tower.

For a century, East Carolina University has served the people of North Report among medical schools emphasizing primary care. The medical school Carolina and the nation. From modest beginnings as a school for training is ranked sixth in rural medicine and 17th overall among primary care teachers, ECU has grown ro become an emerging, national research univer• schools. In addition, construction continues on the East Carolina Heart sity with an enrollment of nearly 26,000. Institute, a partnership institution of East Carolina University and University In I 907, East Carolina was founded to alleviate the desperate shortage of Health Systems of Eastern Carolina. The institute will serve as a center for teachers in rhe eastern part of the state. Our College of Education continues research, clinical care and economic development in the near future. to supply the nation with some of its best educarors, and now it has been Notable East Carolina University alumni include Pulitzer Prize win• joined by programs of high distinction in health care and the fine and per• ners Rick Atkinson and Dan Neil; Emmy Award-winning composer forming arts. The university is no longer a small school, bur an engine of Yelton Ray Bunch; actresses Sandra Bullock, Beth Grant and Emily economic development and a hotbed of discovery with an annual contribu• Procter; BB&T chief operating officer Kelly King; Bob Greczyn, presi• tion ro the local economy of an estimated $3 billion. dent and CEO of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina; former Today, East Carolina is a constituent institution of the University of North North Carolina secretary of state Janice Faulkner; Kevin Williamson, Carolina and offers 104 bachelor's degree programs, 73 master's degree pro• creator of Scream, I Know What You Did Last Summer and Dawson's grams, four specialist degree programs, one first-professional MD program, Creek; former U.S. senator Robert Morgan; former and current National and 17 docroral programs in its professional colleges and schools, including Football League players RB Earnest Byner, QB Jeff Blake, QB David Thomas Harriot College of Arts and Sciences and the Brody School of Garrard and RB Chris Johnson; current Major League Baseball player Medicine. With a mission of teaching, research and service, East Carolina Chad Tracy; Broadway star Manley Pope; Ronnie Barnes, head athletic University is a dynamic institution connecting people and ideas, finding solu• trainer for the ; and James Maynard, founder of the tions to problems, and seeking the challenges of the future. Golden Corral restaurant chain. The Brody School of Medicine is highly-ranked by US. News & World East Carolina University. Tomorrow starts here.

2008 CONFERENCE USA FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP Government Employees Insurance Co. • GEICO General Insurance Co. • GEICO Indemnity Co. • GEICO Casualty Co. These companies are subsidiaries of Berkshire Hathaway Inc. GEICO auto insurance is not available in Mass. GEICO, Washington, DC 20076. © 2007 GEICO EAST CAROLINA UNIVERSITY

If three straight winning seasons and a trio of bowl game appearances are an indication of things to come, the football fortunes at East Carolina might be headed toward unprecedented heights under the leadership of Louis "Skip" Holtz. He quickly revived the lifeline of a once-proud tradition, instilling a sense a pride, commitment, character and discipline into a Pirate team which rewarded its fan base with the school's first run of three consecutive bowl invitations since Passing Att.-Cme,-Int. Pct. Yds. TD 1999-2001. Patrick Pinkney _303-195-7 64.4 2,257 II While the initial success in 2005 relied heavily on a wide-open offensive assault that produced the school's fourth-best passing attack in history, it was a Rushing Att. Yds Avg. TD no-nonsense and fundamentally-sound defensive effort that launched the Pirates Norman Whirley 121 563 4.7 _) back into football's competitive arena a year later. Brandon Simmons 112 393 3.5 6 Holtz followed by using a combination of both in 2007, offering a well-bal• anced offense and a run-stopping, ball-hawking defense ro lead East Carolina to Receiving Rec. Yds. Avg. TD its highest Conference USA win total in school history. Dwayne Harris 58 654 11.3 I Defensively, the Pirates held nine opponents under the I 00-yard ledger dur• Davon Drew 35 547 15.6 3 ing Holtz's second and third campaigns and ranked fourth nationally in turnover margin in 2007, grabbing two or more takeaways in 11 of 13 games. Defensive Tackles TFL Sacks Int. Holtz became East Carolina's I 9th head football coach in the school's all• Pierre Bell 82 9 I 2 time history on Dec. 3, 2004. Van Eskridge 80 .5 0 2 Holtz, 44, completed his sixth season as South Carolina's assistant head coach Nick Johnson 76 10 2 and quarterbacks coach in 2004. He displayed his all-around abilities as a coach, remaining closely involved with the Gamecock offense. Kicking FGM FGA Pct. Long Holtz came to South Carolina after a successful five-year stint as head coach Ben Hartman 17 26 (,5.4 5 I at the University of Connecticut. While at Connecticut, he led the Huskies to a program-best I O-win Punting No. Yds. Avg. Long season in 1998, national Matt Dodge 58 2,529 43.6 70 top 25 rankings the last four seasons. Conference Overall Holtz's stay at South EAST DIVISION W-L PF PA W-L PF PA Carolina marked the East Carolina 6-2 187 I 56 8-4 282 246 second time in his Memphis 4-4 227 20') 6-6 35'! 317 career that he had Southern Miss 4-4 270 190 6-6 368 286 worked under his Marshall :l-5 184 211 4-8 246 332 father on an offensive UAB 3-5 178 2'i5 4-8 273 375 staff. He combined UC:F 3-5 L37 204 4-8 199 289 forces with his father at Notre Dame for four years, in fact, serving the Fighting lrish's offensive coordinator during the 1992 and 1993 seasons. Holtz earned his bachelor's degree m business management from Notre Dame in I 986 and was a football Head coach Skip Holtz has led £CU to its first lerrerwinner for the berth in the C-USA Championship Game Irish in 1986.

2008 CONFERENCE USA FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP ; Smart athletes. Strang students. Be there for the next big moment ... on and off the field.

COMPETITION LIVES HERE EAST CAROLINA UNIVERSITY

Alex Taylor Joe Womack Davon Drew Kevin Gidrey Brandon Simmons

Sean Allen Doug Palmer D.J. Scott

Linval Joseph C.J. Wilson Travis Simmons

Pierre Bell Leon Best

2008 CONFERENCE USA FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP

16 2008 CONFERENCE USA FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP CONFER ENC EU SA. COM 17 THE UNIVERSITY OF TULSA

The University of Tulsa is ranked among the top I 00 universities in the nation.

Today ranked among the top 100 universities in the nation, The pus, which has expanded significantly during the past decade. Based on stu• University of Tulsa traces its beginnings to Muskogee, Indian Territory, dent feedback, TU has been recognized among the nation's top universities for where it was founded by the Presbyterian Church in 1894 as a mission high quality of life, student happiness and university-community relations. school for Indian girls. From these pre-statehood roots grew Henry Kendall As a leading producer of experts and knowledge in a wide range of aca• College, which was relocated to Tulsa in 1907 and re-chartered as The demic disciplines, The University of Tulsa has been internationally recog• University of Tulsa (TU) in 1921. nized for its petroleum engineering program for more than half a century. The university's growing reputation for excellence reflects not only the Today this reputation also encompasses prominent programs in disciplines vision of its pioneering benefactors, but also the talents of its students. In fall including computer science and Native American law. 2008, TU welcomed one of its most outstanding freshman class in universi• The university also takes pride in its intercollegiate athletics program. The ty history, with a record number of National Merit Scholars (one in 10 stu• 18 men's and women's teams that comprise The University of Tulsa Golden dents) and nearly two-thirds of freshmen ranking in the top 10 percent of Hurricane compete in the highest division of the NCAA. TU's recent entry their high school graduating classes. These high-achieving students from into Conference USA has brought new opponents and new exposure to the throughout the nation are attracted to Tulsa not only by TU's reputation, Golden Hurricane. but also by its emphasis on personal attention: the average class size is 19 and No profile of The University of Tulsa would be complete without men• the student-to-faculty ratio is l I-to-L. tioning the contributions of its graduates. TU is not simply an excellent In keeping with its core values, The University of Tulsa educates students school, but also an extended community of alumni networks. This extend• for a rapidly changing and increasingly complex world. TU students come ed community of alumni brings recognition to TU across the nation, while from every state in the union and more than 60 countries around the world. providing the partnership and perspective that have advanced the university A growing number of them live on the university's 200-acre residential cam- for more than I 00 years.

2008 CONFERENCE USA FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP Conference USA is proud to be affiliated with these exciting bowl games.

AUTOZONE LIBERTY BOWL GMAC BOWL ARMED FORCES BOWL January 2, 2009 January 6, 2009 December 31, 2008 4:00 p.m. CST ESPN 7:00 p.m. CST ESPN 11:00 a.m. CST ESPN (-USA vs. SEC C-USA vs. MAC C-USA vs. Mountain West Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadium Ladd-Peebles Stadium Amon G. Carter Stadium Memphis, Tenn. Moblle,Ala. Fort Worth, Texas libertybowl.org gmacbowl.com armedforcesbowl.com

R + L CARRIERS NEW ORLEANS BOWL ST. PETERSBURG BOWL TEXAS BOWL December 21, 2008 December 20, 2008 December 30, 2008 7:00 p.m. CST ESPN 3:30 p.m. CST ESPN 2 7:00 p.m. CST NFL Network C-USA vs. Sun Belt C-USA vs. Big East C-USA vs. Big 12 Louisiana Superdome T roplcana Field Reliant Stadium New Orleans, La. St Petersburg, Fla. Houston, Texas neworleansbowl.org stpetersburgbowl.com texasbowl.org

East Carolina -.... Houston -.... Marshall -.... Memphis -.... Rice -.... SMU Southern Miss ~ Tulane -.... Tulsa -.... UAB -.... UCF -.... UTEP THE UNIVERSITY OF TULSA

When the Tulsa head coaching position was vacant following the 2002 sea• son, Todd Graham sent in his application. But it was not until five years later chat Graham would take over the reins as the Golden Hurricane head coach. Tulsa Golden Hurricane He did come to Tulsa for the 2003 season, but as the Hurricane's assistant 10-2 (7-1 C-USA, West Division Champions) head coach and defensive coordinator under first-year coach Steve Kragchorpe. However, Graham's blueprint on the program was evident as he built one of the best defensive units in Conference USA, and the nation, before leaving the posi• Passing Att.-Cm£,-Int. Pct. Yds. TD tion following his third year at Tulsa. David Johnson 333-220-13 66.1 3,671 42 After a year away, Graham was introduced as The University of Tulsa's head football coach on January 12, 2007. He is the 27th head football coach in Rushing Att. Yds Avg. TD Golden Hurricane history. Tarrien Adams 200 1,196 6.0 9 Graham, 44, left the Tulsa program to become the head coach at Rice Jamad Williams 69 457 6.6 3 University a day after helping the Hurricane post an impressive win and out• standing defensive performance in the 2005 AutoZone Liberty Bowl. Receiving Rec. Yds. Avg. TD In 2006, Graham led Rice to an overall 7-6 record and the school's first bowl Damaris Johnson 44 588 13.4 9 berth in 4 5 years. After beginning the season 0-4, he led a turnaround that saw Brennan Marion 39 1,058 27.l 8 the Owls win seven of its next nine games, to earn him Conference USA Coach of the Year honors as selected by the news media. Defensive Tackles TFL Sacks Int. At West Virginia University, under head coach Rich Rodriguez, Graham Mike Bryan 104 10.5 4 0 helped the Mountaineers improve from a 3-8 mark to a 9-4 record in his sec• Moton Hopkins 68 9.5 2.5 0 ond season. At Tulsa under Kragthorpe, the Hurricane jumped from 1-11 in Charles Davis 61 0.5 0 2 2002 pnor to his arrival, to an 8-4 record Kicking FGM FGA Pct. Long in '03. Jarod Tracy 8 11 72.7 35 Lase year, Graham took over a program Punting No. Yds. Avg. Long that had won 29 games Michael Such 16 711 44.4 69 in the past four years and had been to three Conference Overall bowl games in that WESTDMSION W-L PF PA W-L PF PA same time span, and led Tulsa 7-1 395 247 10-2 592 351 chat team to a 10-4 Rice 7-1 353 278 9-3 499 419 mark and C-USA West Houston 6-2 349 256 7-5 494 374 Division crown. UTEP 4-4 295 302 5-7 395 444 This year, Graham has Tulane 1-7 147 305 2-10 200 414 led the Hurricane to the Southern Methodist 0-8 188 297 1-11 25(, 458 West Division title and a 10-2 record, including a national ranking as high as No. 19. A native of the Dallas-Fort Worth area, Graham was an all-state defensive back at North Mesquite High School. He went on to play at East Central University,

where he was a two- i

Head coach Todd Graham has orchestrated two year NAIA All-America i straight trips to the C-USA Championship Game. defensive back.

2008 CONFERENCE USA FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP Proven ( ) •

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2008 CONFERENCE USA FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP EAST CAROLINA HOUSTON MARSHALL MEMPHIS RICE SMU SOUTHERN MISS TULANE TULSA UAB UCF UTEP

CONFERENCE USA STANDINGS AND NOTES

EAST DIVISION C-USA ALL GAMES W-L Pct. H A Pts Opp W-L Pct. H A Pts Opp x-East Carolina 6-2 .750 3-1 3-1 187 156 8-4 .667 3-1 4-3 282 246 Memphis 4-4 .500 2-2 1-3 227 209 6-6 .500 4-3 2-3 339 317 Southern Miss 4-4 .500 2-2 3-2 270 190 6-6 .500 3-3 3-3 368 286 UAB 3-5 .375 1-3 2-2 178 255 4-8 .333 2-3 2-5 273 375 UCF 3-5 .375 1-2 2-3 137 204 4-8 .333 2-4 2-4 199 289 Marshall 3-5 .375 2-2 1-3 184 211 4-8 .333 3-3 1-5 246 332

WEST DIVISION C-USA ALL GAMES W-L Pct. H A Pts Opp W-L Pct. H A Pts Opp x-Tulsa 7-1 .875 4-0 3-1 395 247 l 0-2 .833 6-0 4-2 592 351 Rice 7-1 .875 4-0 3-1 353 278 9-3 .750 6-0 3-3 499 419 Houston 6-2 .750 4-0 2-2 349 256 7-5 .583 5-1 2-4 494 374 UTEP 4-4 .500 3-1 1-3 295 302 5-7 .417 2-3 3-4 395 444 Tulane 1-7 .125 1-2 0-5 147 305 2-10 .167 2-4 0-6 200 414 SMU 0-8 .000 0-4 0-4 188 297 1-1 1 .083 1-5 0-6 256 458 x-Clinched Division Title and berth in C-USA Championship Game

THE MATCHUP AIR ATTACK East Carolina will be making its first appearance in the C-USA Of the top nine leaders in touchdown passes chis season, four hail from Championship Game as East Division Champion. Tulsa, which will repre• the West Division of Conference USA. Houston's Case Keenum is second, sent the West Division for the third time in four years, has the upper hand in trailing Oklahoma's Sam Bradford by just three TDs, while Tulsa's David the series between the two teams, winning five of seven all-time rnatchups - Johnson is next with 42. Here's a look at the NCAA leaders (through including Conference USA meetings in 2005 (45-13) and 2006 (31-10). games of Nov. 29): The Golden Hurricane has one of the top offenses in MOST TOUCHDOWN PASSES IN 2008 this season, topping the 45-point mark in eight games - including three 46 Sam Bradford, Oklahoma games with more than 60 points. On the other hand, East Carolina leads 43 Case Keenum, Houston the league in scoring defense (20.5 ppg) and ranks second in total 42 David Johnson, Tulsa defense (329.4 ypg). 41 Chase Clement, Rice 41 Graham Harrell, Texas Tech 34 Chase Daniel, Missouri Pl RATES PURGE RANKED OPPONENTS 34 Max Hall, BYU East Carolina jumped into the national polls in September, ranking as 34 Tim Hiller, Western Michigan high as No. 14. The Pirates defeated No. 15 Virginia Tech and No. 8 West 33 Trevor Vittatoe, UTEP Virginia on back-co-back Saturdays to become the first team from a non• BCS AQ conference to win consecutive games over ranked opponents in the same season since Fresno State in 2001. AIR ATTACK II Last season, Tulsa's Paul Smith set a new Conference USA record by ECU NATIONAL NOTERIETY throwing 47 touchdown passes. Houston's Keenum has now moved into second place on the list with 43, followed closely by Tulsa's Johnson ECU was named the Tosti cos Fiesta Bowl National Team of the Week with 42. Before this season, just four QB's in league history had thrown by the Football Writers Association of America on Sept. 8 and won the 30 or more TDs in a season. Currently, four have already thrown for 30+ Pontiac Game Changing Performance Play of the Week on Sept. l for scores. Here's a look at the leaders: T.J. Lee's blocked punt and return for the game-winning touchdown vs. C-USA SINGLE-SEASON TD PASS LEADERS then-No. 15 Virginia Tech. 47 Paul Smith, Tulsa, 2007 43 Case Keenum, Houston, 2008 42 David Johnson, Tulsa, 2008 41 Chase Clement, Rice, 2008 36 Shaun King, Tulane, 1998 33 Trevor Vittatoe, UTEP, 2008 33 J.P. Losman, Tulane, 2003

CONFER ENCEUSA. COM POSTSEASON HISTORY EAST CAROLINA (8-6-0) 2004 GMAC BOWL TULANE (4-6-0) SHERATON HAWAl'l BOWL Bowling Green 52. i\1emphis .)5 2002 HA\X'AI'l BOWL East Carolina 4 l, Boise Stare ?,8 2005 NEW ORLEANS BOWL Tulane .H>. Haw.ri"i 28 2006 l'Al'AJOHNS.CO:Vl BO\X'L Memphis 27, North Texas 1-. 1998 LIBERTY ROWL USF 24. East Carolina 7 1971 PASADENA BOWL T.ulane 41, 8righ. am Young 27 2001 CMAC BOWL Memphis 28, San Jose State 9 1:-S:DEI'ENDENCE BOWL l\larshall 64. East Carolina 61 (2or) 1956 BURLEY BOWL \X'ashington 24, Tulane 12 2000 CALLERYfURNJTURE.COl\1 BO\X'L Memphis 32, East Tennessee State 12 I 980 HALL OF FAME BOWL East Carolina 40, Texas Tech 27 Arkansas 34. Tulane 15 1999 MOBILE ALABA:VlA BO\'H RICE (4-4-0) LIBERTY BOWL TCU 28, East Carolina I 4 2006 R+L CARRIERS NEW ORLEANS BOWL Penn State 9, Tulane 6 1995 LIBERTY BOWL Trov 4 I, Rice I 7 1975 BLUEBONNET BOWL East Carolina 19, Stanford 13 1961 BLUEBONNET BOWL Houston 47, Tulane 7 1994 LIBERTY BOWL Kansas 3 3, Rice 7 1970 LIBERTY BOWL Illinois 50, East Carolina 0 1961 SUGAR BOWL Tulane 17, Colorado 3 1992 PEACH BOWL Mississippi 14, Rice 6 1940 SUGAR BOWL East Carolina 37, NC State 34 1958 COTTON BOWL Texas A&M 14, Tulane 13 1978 INDEPENDENCE BOWL Navy 20, Rice 7 1935 SUGAR BOWL East Carolina 35, Louisiana Tech 13 1954 COTTON BOWL Tulane 20. Temple 14 1965 TANCERINE BOWL Rice 28, Alabama 6 1932 ROSE BOWL East Carolina 31, Maine 0 1950 COTTON BOWL Southern California 21, Tulane 12 1964 TANGERINE BOWL Rice 27, North Carolina 13 East Carolina I 4, Massachuserr s 13 1947 ORANGE BOWL TULSA (6-9-0) 196.l EASTERN BOWL Rice 8, Tennessee 0 2007 CMAC BOWL East Carolina 27, Northeastern 6 I 938 COTTON BOWL Tulsa ()?,, Bowling Green 7 1954 ELKS BOWL Rice 28, Colorado l 4 200(, BELL HELICOPTER ARMED FORCES 80\X'L Morris-Harvev 12, East Carolina 0 Uuh 21, Tulsa U 19'12 LIONS BO\VL SMU (4-5-1) 2005 AUTOZONE LIBERTY BOWL Clarion College 13, East Carolina 6 1984 ALOHA BOWL Tulsa 31, Fresno Sr. 24 SMU 27, Notre Dame 20 200.l HUMANITARIAN HOWL HOUSTON (7-10-1} 198.l SUN BOWL Ccori;;ia Tech '12, Tuba 10 2007 TEXAS BOWL Alabama 28, SMU 7 l')'JI FREl·.DOM BOWL TCU 20. Houston 1.l I

2008 CONFERENCE USA FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP EAST CAROLINA HOUSTON MARSHALL MEMPHIS RICE SMU SOUTHERN MISS TULANE TULSA UAB UCF UTEP

Location: Greenville, N.C. Founded: 1907 Enrollment: 25,990 Nickname: Pirates Colors: Purple and Gold Stadium: Dowdy-Ficklen Stadium (43,000) Chancellor: Dr. Steve Ballard Faculty Athletics Representative: Dr. David Dosser Athletics Director Head Coach Senior Woman Administrator: Rosie Thompson Terry Holland Skip Holtz

Great Season in Pirate History 1991 Led by second-team All-America pick Jeff Blake, the 1991 Pirates finished the season 11-1 and ranked No. 9 in the country after a thrilling 37-34 comeback win in the 1992 Peach Bowl. During the remarkable season, ECU claimed notable wins over South Carolina, Syracuse, Pittsburgh and Virginia Tech. The team racked up a school record 3,379 passing yards, and also notched 4,808 total yards, a mark that is third-best in program history. ECU's 372 points scored and 33.8 points per game average that season both rank second in school annals. After the season, head coach Bill Lewis was named 1991 National Coach of the Year.

Founded: 1927 Enrollment: 35,400 Nickname: Cougars Colors: Scarlet and White with Navy Trim Stadium: John O'Quinn Field at Robertson Stadium (32,000) Chancellor/President: Dr. Renu Khator Athletics Director Head Coach Faculty Athletics Representative: Richard Scamell Dave Maggard Kevin Sumlin Senior Woman Administrator: DeJuena Crizer

Great Season in Cougar History 1976 Houston stunned the Southwest Conference in 1976 by winning the con• ference title in its first year of competition in the league, earning its first trip to a New Year's Day bowl. Then, the Cougars shocked fifth-ranked and undefeated Maryland, 30-21, in the Cotton Bowl to achieve its high• est national ranking at that time (No. 1 O). Following the season, defen• sive Wilson Whitley was honored with the Lombardi Award as the nation's most outstanding lineman and also received All-America honors. Head coach Bill Yeoman received accolades as he was named Texas Coach of the Year and runner-up for National Coach of the Year.

Case Keenum

CON FERENCE USA. COM Location: Huntington, W.Va. Founded: 1837 Enrollment: 13,814 Nickname: Thundering Herd Colors: Creen and White Stadium: Joan C. Edwards Stadium 158,019) President: Dr. Stephen J. Kopp Faculty Athletics Representative: Dr. Robert Bookwalter Athletics Director Head Coach Senior Woman Administrator: Beatrice Crane Banford Boh Mnrcurn Mari: Snyder

Great Season in Thundering Herd History 1996 Marshall's finest season came in head coach Bob I'ruerts first season and its last as a member of I-AA in 1996. The team was dominant en route to a Southern Conference ride with a 7-0 league record. They completed the sea• son at 15-0, winning each game by at icast 14 points and scoring 40 or more points 10 rimes. Marshall capped off this amazing season by defeating Montana, 49-29, to capture the school's second national championship in six years. Quarterback Eric Kresser tied the school record for TD passes and earned All-America honors. All-American widcour Randy Moss set Division I-AA records for most games with a touchdown catch, most consecutive games with a touchdown catch, most touchdown passes caught by a freshman in a season and most receiving yards gained by a freshman in a season. Darius Passmore

Enrollment: 20,579 Nickname: Tigers Colors: Blue and Grav Stadium: Liberrv Bowl Memorial Stadium (62,380) President: Dr. Shirlev Raines Athletics 1 )i rector Head Coach Faculty Athletics Representative: Ed Stephens R. C .fol111s1111 Jimm1y Wht Senior Woman Administrative: Lynn Parkes

Great Season in Tiger History 2003 The nation's longest bowl drought at the time (.32 years) ended in a big way for Memphis in 2003. Playing in its first howl game since 1 ')71, the Tigers downed North Texas, 27-17, in the New Orleans Bowl to finish 9-4. The nine wins marked the best finish by a Tiger team since the 1 ')6.'l season. Riding the arm of quarterback Danny Wimprine the Tigers dom• inated the Mean Green. Wimprine, the game's /v!VP, finished I 7-ot~23 for 254 yards and a touchdown. He also ran for 17 yards and a score. DeAngclo Willaims led the Tigers ground attack during the 2003 cam• paign and racked up 1.430 rushing yards and IO TDs.

Oi11trm McDonald

2008 CONFERENCE USA FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP .'. EAST CAROLINA HOUSTON MARSHALL MEMPHIS RICE SMU SOUTHERN MISS TULANE TULSA UAB UCF UTEP

Founded: 1 912 Enrollment: 5,145 Nickname: Owls Colors: Blue and Gray Stadium: Rice Stadium (47,000) President: David W. Leebron Faculty Athletics Representative: Dr. James Castaneda Athletics Director Head Coach Senior Woman Administrator: Leslie Claybrook Chris Del Conte David Bailiff

Great Season in Owl History 1953 Led by Hall of Fame coach Jess Neely, the 1953 Rice Owls finished the season 9-2 and ranked No. 6 in the country after a 28-6 win over Alabama in the 1954 Cotton Bowl. Against the Crimson Tide, halfback Dicky Maegle scored on runs of 79, 95 and 34 yards and piled up 265 yards rushing on just 11 carries, for an unbelievable average of 24.1 yards per attempt. The 265 yards are still a Rice single-game record. Teammate Kosse Johnson and John Hudson were named All-America, while Leo Rucka and Kenny Paul were honored with all-SWC status. The bowl win was the fourth consecutive for Rice and the team outscored its opponents 295-105 on the season.

James Cmey

Enrollment: 10,941 Nickname: Mustangs Colors: Red and Blue Stadium: Gerald J. Ford Stadium (32,000) President: Dr. R. Gerald Turner Faculty Athletics Representative: C. Paul Rogers III Athletics Director Head Coach Senior Woman Administrator: Koni Dawes Steve Orsini June Jones

Great Season in Mustang History 1982 In 1982, SMU finished the season as the only undefeated team in Division IA Football, ending the season at 11-0-1 following their 7-3 victory over the Universiry of Pittsburgh in the Cotton Bowl on New Year's Day. Despite being the only undefeated team, they ultimately finished at No. 2 in the AP poll behind Penn State, the program's highest final ranking since 1947 when they finished No. 3. SMU was ranked No. I and named national champi• ons by the Helms Athletic Foundation. Led by Quarterback Lance Mcllhenny and the backfield tandem of Eric Dickerson and Craig James (dubbed the Pony Express), the Ponies tied the program record with 44 touchdowns and amassed 3,041 rushing yards.

A!drick Robinson

CONFER EN CEU SA. COM Location: Hattiesburg, Miss. Founded: 1 91 0 Enrollment: 15,000 Nickname: Golden Eagles Colors: Black and Gold Stadium: Carlisle-Faulkner Field at Roberrs Stadium (36,000) President: Dr. Martha D. Saunders Athletics Director Head Coach Faculty Athletics Representative: Dr. Dennis Phillips Richard Giannini Larry Fedora Senior Woman Administrator: Sonya Varnell

Great Season in Golden Eagle History 1997 In 1997, Southern Miss finished with a 9-3 record and sole possession of the Conference USA crown. The Golden Ealges spenr two weeks in the national polls during the year and finished the regular season ranked No. 22 in the AP Poll and No. 23 in the ESPN/ USA TODAY Coaches Poll. After scoring rhe most lopsided victory of any bowl game rhar season, a 41-7 rout of Pittsburgh in the Liberty Bowl, Southern Miss finished with a national ranking of 19th in both polls, marking the first time in school history a Golden Eagles squad finished the year in the top 25. The team was honored with 17 All-Conference USA selections, highlighted by first-team members Patrick Surrain and Adalius Thomas. Surtain also claimed second-ream All-America honors. Austin Davis

Founded: 1834 Enrollment: 10,606 Nickname: Green Wave Colors: Olive Green and Sky Blue Stadium: Louisiana Superdome (69,703) President: Dr. Scott Cowen Faculty Athletics Representative: Michael Hogg Athletics Director Head Coach Senior Woman Administrator: Maria Woods Rick Dickson Bob Toledo Great Season in Green Wave History 1998 The most successful football season at Tulane occurred in 1998 when the ream went 12-0. The squad was the first in school history to win 12 games in a sea• son and the third unbeaten, untied squad in school history. Only one opponem came within a touchdown at game's end. Tulane totaled 499 poinrs, 124 more than any previous Green Wave ream had scored. The Wave scored at least 40 points in nine of 12 games, including the last seven contests. Quarterback Shaun King broke almost every Tulane season and career passing record. He was the first NCAA I-A player to amass 3,000 passing and 500 rushing yards in a season, and he established a new passing efficiency record of 183.3. Tulane won the C-USA Championship and closed rhe season with a decisive win over Brigham Young in the Liberty Bowl to earn No. 7 national ranking. Michael Parenton

,:. 2008 CONFERENCE USA FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP :-. Enro llment: 4.100 Nickname: Golden Hurricane Colors: Old Gold, Royal Blue, Crimson Stadium: H.A. Chapman Stadium U0,000) President: Dr. Steadman Upham Faculty Athletics Representative: Chris Anderson Athletics Director Head Conch Senior Woman Administrator: Crista Troester Buhht1 C111111i11ghmn Todd Graham Great Season in Golden Hurricane History 2005 The 200'i Tirlsa Football team exceeded the expectations of all of the "foot• ball experts." Coming off a 4-8 season, the team went on to finish 6-2 in C:-USA action to win the West Division crown and went on to play in the league's inaugural championship game. In from of a crowd of more than 51,000 at Orlando's Citrus Bowl, Tulsa downed UCF, 44-27, earning its first conference championship since taking the 1985 Missouri Valley Conference title. In the championship game victory, Tulsa right end Garrett Mills had eight catches for 152 yards. That gave him 1,183 for the year, a new NCAA record for most receiving yards in a season by a tight end. The Golden Hurricane would go on to play Fresno State in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl and cap off a nine win season with a 31-24 win. IJt1 vid [ohusan

Location: Birmingham, Ala. Founded: I %9 Enrollment: I 7 ,.BO Nickname: Blazers Colors: Forest Creen and Old Cold Stadium: Legion Field (72,000) President: Dr. Carol Z. Garrison Faculty Athletics Representative: Dr. joh nnv Scott Athletics Director Head Coach Senior Woman Administrator: Rosalind Ervin Brit111 Mackin Neil Cizlloway Great Season in Blazer History 2004 In 2004, UAB reached a milestone as it earned its first howl trip in school history. UAB joined Division I-A in 19% after competing in Division I II and I-AA and didn't need much time to become successful, becoming bowl-eligible in 2000 by going 7-4, and in 2001 by posting a 6-5 mark. UAB's steady improvement finally paid off with a trip to the 2004 Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl to face Hawaii. During the season, UAB's bal• anced offense averaged more than 50 points per game and was led by record setting quarterback Darrell Hackney, who tossed a record 26 TDs. Hackney's favorite target was All-American senior , the sec• ond-leading receiver in the nation during the 2004 season.

jot' Wrhh I_

CONFERENCE USA. COM Enro llment: 50,000 Nickname: Knights Colors: Black and Gold Stadium: Bright House Networks Stadium (45,32-1) President: Dr. John C. Hitt Athletics Director Head Coach Faculty Athletics Representative: Dr. Cynthia Young Keith Ji-ihh!c George O'Leary Senior Woman Administrator: Jessica Rm Great Season in Golden Knight History • 2007 The 2007 season will undoubtedly go down as the most successful in rhe history of the UCF football program to date. In its first season playing a Bright House Networks Stadium, the Knights reeled off IO wins and cap• tured the first conference championship in school history when they defeat• ed Tulsa, 44-25, in the Conference USA Championship Game. Thar victo• ry was the Knights' sixth on their new home field, a school record. The sea• son also featured one of the most dominant single-season rushing perform• ances in NCAA history as junior Kevin Smith rushed for 2,567 yards and 29 touchdowns en route to becoming the first consensus All-American in program history. Joe Burnett

Location: El Paso, Texas Founded: I') 14 Enrollment: 20,000 Nickname: Miners Colors: Dark Blue, Orange, Silver Accent Stadium: Sun Bowl (51,500) President: Dr. Diana Naralicio Faculty Athletics Representative: Dr. Darla Smith Athletics Director Hmd Coach Senior Woman Administrator: Lisa Campos Boh Stu!! Afike Price - Great Season in Miner History ··.·· .', .. 1998 .. · . ··.··(i·.· With current athletics director Bob Stull at the helm in 1988, UTE!' post• . ·/ . I . ed irs first back-to-back winning seasons since 196(,-67 and notched a pro• ~' _.. : \ gram-best IO wins. The team claimed a second place finish in rhe Western Athletic Conference and played in the Independence Bowl where ir fell ro r; V . \ eventual C-USA toe Southern Miss. Quarterback Par Hegarty led rhe ream with 2, 'i2'J passing on the season and combined with David Flores to set "r;\ i • a then-UTE!' bowl record with 308 yards passing. John '4 .--~ \ Harvey finished the season as the school's leading rusher (3,576) and all• rime leading scorer (306), while Tony Tolbert and placekick• er Chris [ackc were both named All-America. . - " ) Tiruo: Vittetoe

2008 CONFERENCE USA FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP ,... ACADEMIC AWARDS Conference USA is dedicated to excellence in athletics, academics and community service. C-USA places an emphasis on academic achievement for its stu• dent-athletes, encouraging an environment tor academic success. In addition to student-athletes representing the league on E'ii'N The Mag,1zine Academic All-America teams, C-USA has several academic award programs that are featured below. A total of 1,824 student-athletes earned recognition to the Commissioner's Honor Roll during the 2007-08 academic year, with 335 earning the Academic Medal. Thirteen student-athletes earned national Academic All-America honors, while 56 were recognized at the district level.

j:co N FERENCE u SA. CSTV. co M r I PLAYERS IN THE PROS

Here's a look at the C-USA players on NFL rosters J.l' Losman •QB• Buffalo Bills (as of Nov. 2) • RB • Patrick Ramsey • QB • Denver Broncos EAST CAROLINA Aundrae Allison • \X'R • TULSA Terrance Copper • \X'R • Chris Chamberlain • LB • Sr. Louis Rams "Darnane Duckett > DL • San Francisco 49ers Gus Frerotte • QB • Minnesota Vikings David Garrard • QB • Jacksonville Jaguars Garrett Mills • FB • Minnesota Vikings Chris Johnson • RB • Kevin Shaffer • 0 L • Vonta Leach • FB • Houston Texans #Paul Smirh > QB • Jacksonville Jaguars ' • OT • New York Giants UAB HOUSTON #Darrell Hackney> QB • Denver Broncos 'Anthony Alridge • RB • Denver Broncos Bryan Thomas • DE • New York Jets Donnie Avery • \X'R • St. Louis Rams Roddy \X/hite • \X'R • Jackie Barrie • RB • #Julius Wilson • OT • Tampa Bay Buccaneers #Biren Ealy> \X'R • Tennessee Titans Rex Hadnot • OG • Cleveland Browns UCF #Rodney Hannah• TE• Atari Bigby • S • Kevin Kolb > QB• Philadelphia Eagles Daunte Culpepper > QB • Detroit Lions Matt Forte' Brandon Middleton • \X'R • Detroit Lions Travis Fisher • CB • Detroit Lions Stanford Routt • CB • Oakland Raiders Michael Gaines • TE • Detroit Lions Cornell Green • OT • Oakland Raiders MARSHALL Rashad Jeanty • LB • • RB • New York Giants Darcy Johnson • TE • New York Giants Chris Crocker • FS • Miami Dolphins Brandon Marshall • WR • Denver Broncos Chris Hanson • P • "Mike Merrirt > TE• Kansas City Chiefs Byron Leftwich • QB • Pittsburgh Steelers Matt Prater • K • Denver Broncos Chris Massey • LS • Sr. Louis Rams Asante Samuel • CB • Philadelphia Eagles Randy Moss • WR • New England Patriots Josh Sitton • G • Green Bay Packers Chad Pennington • QB • Miami Dolphins Kevin Smith • RB • Detroit Lions John Wade • C • Oakland Raiders Mike Walker • WR • Jacksonville Jaguars MEMPHIS UTEP Tony Brown > OT• Tennessee Titans Oniel Cousins • OT • Isaac Bruce • \X'R • San Francisco 49ers Quintin Demps • S • Philadelphia Eagles Stephen Gostkowski • K • New England Patriots Jon Dorenbos • LS • Philadelphia Eagles Artis Hicks • OT • Minnesota Vikings Johnnie Lee Higgins • \X'R • Oakland Raiders Brandon McDonald• DB• Cleveland Browns Thomas Howard • LB • Oakland Raiders Mike McKenzie • DB • New Orleans Saints Jordan Palmer • QB • Cincinnati Bengals Wade Smith • OT • Kansas City Chiefs Marcus Thomas • RB • Detroit Lions DeAngclo Williams • RB • Carolina Panthers Brian Young • OT • New Orleans Saints Randy Moss RICE #practice squad New England Patriots • LB • '.'Jew England Patriots * injured reserve N.D. Kalu •DE• Houston Texans Ryan Pontbriand• LS • Cleveland Browns 2008 DRAFTEES First Round SMU Chris Johnson • RB • East Carolina - Tennessee Titans Justin Rogers > LB • Dallas Cowboys Second Round Donnie Avery • WR • Houston - St. Louis Rams SOUTHERN MISS Matt Forte' • RB • Tulane - Chicago Bears Michael Boley • LB • Atlanta Falcons Third Round Jeremy Bridges • OT • Carolina Panthers Kevin Smith • RB• UCF - Detroit Lions * Antoine Cash • LB • Tampa Bay Buccaneers Oniel Cousins • OG • UTEP - Baltimore Ravens #Kevis Coley • LB • Houston Texans Fourth Round Brett Favre> QB • New York Jets Quintin Demps • FS • UTEP - Philadelphia Eagles 'Robert Henderson • DE• New York Giants Josh Sitton • C • UCF - Green Bay Packers #Jeremy Parquet > OT• Pittsburgh Steelers Fifth Round #Brandon Sumrall • DB • Tampa Bay Buccaneers Marcus Thomas • RB • UTEP - San Diego Chargers Patrick Surtain • DB • Kansas City Chiefs Sixth Round Adalius Thomas > DE/LB • New England Patriots Robert Henderson s DE• Southern Miss - New York Giants • C • Houston Texans Seventh Round Chris Chamberlain • LB • Tulsa - St. Louis Rams TULANE Mike Merritt • TE • UCF - Kansas City Chiefs Roddy White Matt Forte' • RB • Chicago Bears Atlanta Falcons

.:. 2008 CONFERENCE USA FOOTBALL CHAMPIONSHIP i-

Be there far the next big moment.

Whether it's cheering for your school as it brings home a championship, being there as a friend wins an unforgettable match, or watching a family member walk across the graduation stage, big moments happen every day in Conference USA. Don't miss a minute of it. To get the full story behind each of these big moments, go to ConferenceUSA.com.

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